Metro services from 18 November 2017

Eight new stations. Eight new stations were opened on 18 November 2017, two in Helsinki and six in Espoo. The new line runs entirely underground.

More frequent service. At peak times, the Metro runs between Tapiola and Itäkeskus every two and half minutes.

Two Metro lines. There are two Metro lines: Matinkylä-Vuosaari and Tapiola-Mellunmäki. In the east, every other train runs to Mellunmäki and every other to Vuosaari. In Espoo, every other train turns around at Tapiola and every other continues to Matinkylä.

Eight new stations

The new Metro Stations are Lauttasaari, Koivusaari, Keilaniemi, Aalto University, Tapiola, Urheilupuisto, Niittykumpu and Matinkylä. All station entrances are wheelchair accessible. Passenger safety has been a key consideration in the design of the stations. In addition, each station has a specific architectural theme that reflects the overground surroundings of the station.

This is how the Metro operates

The Metro operates on two lines: Matinkylä–Vuosaari and Tapiola–Mellunmäki. Metro service is frequent: on the joint section of route, trains run every two and half minutes Monday to Friday at peak times. Service begins at about 5am Monday to Friday and Saturdays, on Sundays at 6am. The service ends around 11.30pm.

More compact urban structure

Although the Metro runs underground, it has a major impact on what happens overground. In South Espoo, the Metro will mean a significantly more compact urban structure around the Metro stations. Large construction projects are underway in the surroundings of almost every new station. The more compact urban structure enables more eco-friendly travel with the trip chains of an increasing number of people consisting of walking or cycling and the Metro.

For example, there will be a lot of new construction in the surroundings of Keilaniemi station. Illustration: ALA ARKKITEHDIT / Länsimetro Oy

In many places, construction works around the Metro stations continue also after the opening of the line. One of these stations is Tapiola, which is a key feeder bus terminal point in Espoo along with Matinkylä. The Tapiola bus terminal will be completed in 2019, until when buses will leave from Pohjantie and Tapionaukio.

Park & Ride

Park & Ride facilities for cars and bikes will be constructed at several stations. The number of Park & Ride spaces will further increase when the areas around the stations are completed.

There are Park & Ride facilities for cars at Lauttasaari, Tapiola, Urheilupuisto, Niittykumpu and Matinkylä stations. Park & Ride spaces for bicycles are available at all stations.

To use the Park & Ride parking, you need to have a valid public transport ticket. Show your Travel Card at a card reader when entering the parking site. At the moment, HSL's mobile tickets cannot be used for Park & Ride.

Station

Park & Ride for cars

Park & Ride for bicycles

Future plans

Lauttasaari

50 spaces on level P2 of the shopping center, only designated spaces (entrance at Lauttasaarentie 25). Price: 2 euros Mon-Fri 6am-5pm. After 5pm, normal parking fee. System based on register number identification. Access to the Metro via the shopping center. Operated by EuroPark

70 spaces by the western entrace, 30 spaces by the eastern entrance. In addition, 40 spaces on Otavantie.

Koivusaari

No car spaces.

50 spaces with frame-locking.

Keilaniemi

No Park & Ride due to construction works.

About 30 spaces between the station buildings and 30 by the northern entrance. All spaces with frame-locking.

180 car spaces planned over the coming years, along with about 100 bike parking spaces.

Aalto Univeristy

No car spaces.

80 spaces with frame-locking by the Tietotie entrance and 120 (temporary) spaces by the main entrance.

The number of bike spaces with frame-locking will significantly increase when Korkeakouluaukio and Väre building are completed.

In total 80 spaces on level P3 of the shopping center, Niittykuja 4, of which 20 Park & Ride spaces available 24/7, 60 spaces available Mon-Fri 5am-5pm, after which the spaces are for the customers of the shopping center. Price 2 euros/10 hours, after which normal parking fee. Access to the Metro entrance via the shopping center. Operated by ParkkiPate.

About 200 spaces with frame-locking on Rälssitilanportti.

160 new bike spaces will be completed at Niittytori during spring 2018 and 120 new car spaces at the earliest in 2018.

The number of bike spaces will be increased in the future when the new Metro entrance is completed.

Opening hours:

MatinkyläMon-Sat 4.30am-00.30amSun 5.30am-0.30amExit 24h

UrheilupuistoMon-Sun 6am-10pmExit 24h

NiittykumpuMon-Sat 4.30am-0.30amSun 5.30am-0.30amExit only during the opening hours

TapiolaMon-Sat 4.45am-midnightSun 5.45am-midnightExit 24h

LauttasaariMon-Sat 6am-10pmSun 9am-10pmExit 24h

Park & Ride spaces for bicycles will be constructed, for example, next to the entrances to Matinkylä Metro Station. Illustration: Arkkitehtitoimisto HKP Oy / Länsimetro Oy

West Metro is a cooperation of several parties

The Metro extension project involves several parties.

HSL is responsible for the planning of Metro and feeder bus services.

The company responsible for the construction of the line is Länsimetro Oy, established in 2007. The company’s task is to construct the Metro line together with the stations from Ruoholahti to Matinkylä and further to Kivenlahti.

The City of Espoo owns about 87 per cent of Länsimetro Oy and the City of Helsinki about 15 per cent.

Helsinki City Transport (HKL) is responsible for the operation of the Metro services and maintenance of infrastructure.

Background

The city councils of Helsinki and Espoo approved the construction of the West Metro in May 2008 and the construction started in Ruoholahti, Helsinki in November 2009. The construction got into full swing in 2010 after the Supreme Administrative Court had rejected complaints over the underground plan for the Metro tunnels and stations.

The West Metro is a cooperation between the cities of Helsinki and Espoo and the State. The State pays 30 per cent of the construction costs and the rest is divided between by the two cities on the basis of the construction costs in each city. The final cost estimate for the project is 1,024 million euros.

More to come

In future, the Metro line will be extended from Matinkylä to Kivenlahti. The new section of line will be seven kilometers long with five new stations and it will open in the 2020's. The construction of the second phase of the West Metro has already started. The second phase includes also the construction of a new underground Metro depot in Sammalvuori.

This tunnel goes to the construction site of the Soukka Metro Station. The Soukka station is one of the stations to be opened in the second phase in the 2020's.